Helping my 6 1/2 month old with independence

My husband finally gave in and let me get a gym membership at a really expensive place. There were many reasons we decided to get the membership, but the most important reason was getting Micah used to other people. This gym has childcare, and it is the only one in town that will watch babies Micah's age.

He's very shy, and always wants to be with me. He also doesn't trust "new" people to hold him. This could be good, but it also has been bad because we want our friends & family to be able to play with him!

It has definitely been difficult for me to leave him when he is frightened, but I know it is for the best! Other kids have siblings, or they go to daycare, and they aren't so stressed when their parents hand them off. 

It has been a week, and yesterday we made HUGE progress. He didn't cry the entire time!! He played and was very content. The people that have been watching him were so happy for both of us, and it was nice! 

We have a wedding this weekend, and my hope is that Micah allows our family to hold him! So we will see.

Oh, and he's finally sleeping through the night, and so am I!!! 😄👍🏻

Perseverance & consistency! That's the key.

Filling the day with a nearly three month old

I've been trying to figure out how to fill the day with a baby who cannot do too much yet. I watch entirely too much television, and becoming aware of this fact has made me stop watching so much! He will sometimes turn his head to watch it, too...and that's when I get up and head into the other room. 

However, there is only so much tummy time that you can do in a day! 

So I've been doing research to figure out what babies need at this age. It is very important that you read to your baby (obviously), but too much reading and it is apparent that your baby will become bored. Of course, you should be doing tummy time, and the amount of time should increase every month. I also think that after tummy time you should put your baby on their back on an activity mat so they can look at all the different hanging toys. At three months, your baby should be swatting and grasping toys, so this encourages them to do so.

I enjoy putting Micah in his boppy and talking to him without any distractions. He is very vocal and will respond to me very excitedly. I love his smiles, giggles, and yells! Also while he is in the boppy, I put music on for him and sing. Although I have the worst voice on earth, he doesn't seem to notice. 

I do put him in his swing when I am cooking, or eating. When I'm cleaning I have started to wear him, and I like to talk to him about what we are doing...that is until he falls asleep! 

I take at least one walk a day with him. That is another way to fill the day. It seems like he really enjoys the stroller. While I walk with him, I try to tell him what I'm seeing. He usually hears me telling our poor Corgi, George, no. He doesn't make walking easy, that's for sure!

Anyway, I'm training for a half marathon, and Micah goes on runs with me, too! I don't like to take him further than four miles because it is a lot more work! But I think I will be a better runner if I try! 

Yesterday Steph and I did five treadmill miles, and it is much harder running on a treadmill than running outside! I don't think I have ever ran that far on the treadmill before.

This month Micah giggled for the first time, and he rolls over during tummy time. He is 11 weeks and 6 days! I'm pretty proud. He rolled over two times in a row, so it wasn't a fluke! 

This is right after he rolled over:

I have joined a MOM's club here in Albuquerque, there are a few different chapters, depending on where you live. This will be a great way to meet moms, and to get out and enjoy the city.

Micah and I also run a lot of errands together, and go hang out with a lot of our friends, and sometimes family. Micah and I also meet Daddy for lunch once a week. Going out early on also helps him get used to the carseat, and people!

So spend your day talking with, wearing, walking with, running with, playing with, laughing with, reading with, going out with, and of course, loving your baby!!!

Crib training & sleep

Have you co-slept with your baby, and had a hard time figuring out when to transition to the crib in the nursery? My husband and I have been realizing that Micah has been more and more aware lately (at 11 weeks), and it is probably time to start trying. Since we FINALLY received the crib a couple of weeks ago, I have been laying Micah in it while awake every morning when I'm getting things ready for the day. I just started last week trying to put him down in his crib for naps. As I type, I'm rocking eagerly back and forth in the nursery rocking chair, just waiting for him to wake up. Of course, I put him down while he is sleepy, but awake because he has learned to fall asleep on his own in his co-sleeper, so I want him to get used to it in his crib, as well (it makes for easy nights). I am happy to say he has been asleep for 35 minutes now!

I don't swaddle him for naps, and I know I am supposed to, according to research, but I don't want him to only be able to sleep with a swaddle. Plus, we are mostly on the go at least half of the week, so he sleeps in car seats a lot of times. I am sorry to inform you that we don't have set nap schedules, which is completely fine with me. And this has been fine because he has been pretty easy to put down at night (knock on wood) and that is what I care most about. For example, our friends were over a lot last week, and I have been able to feed Micah, burp him, put him down awake, and attend to our guests right after...it takes me about 15 minutes! I watch him on the monitor the entire time I'm away from him though! :)

I am nervous about having him sleep five miles away from me (a slight exaggeration ;) ), but I know that it is for the best...for all of us! 

So I will continue putting him down in his room for naps at least once a day to get him comfortable with it. 

Anyway, Micah is starting to wake up because it is close to his feeding time, so I will talk to you soon!